House for Trees: an interactive tour of Vo Trong Nghia Architects’ green residence in Ho Chi Minh City

A new family residence by Vo Trong Nghia Architects in Vietnam's capital city, named House for Trees, matches high-density living space with a large, tropical forest. Photography: Hiroyuki Oki

A new family residence by Vo Trong Nghia Architects in Vietnam's capital city, named House for Trees, matches high-density living space with a large, tropical forest. Photography: Hiroyuki Oki

It’s no wonder that in one of the world’s busiest metropolises, residents are looking to bring green elements to inner-city areas. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is home to a new family residence by Vo Trong Nghia Architects that aims to address this issue exactly. With only 0.25 per cent of the Vietnamese capital taken up by vegetation, House for Trees offers a welcome alternative, matching high-density living space with a large, tropical forest.

Working within a tight budget, the architects created a house in what used to be a vacant lot in the middle of a block. The design consists of five concrete boxes designed as giant pots, with trees planted on top. The trees emerge as if from an oasis at the heart of the Tan Binh district, where many typical Vietnamese houses are crowded together. The property becomes ’a part of nature even in the middle of a busy city’, says architect Vo Trong Nghia. At the same time, it mirrors the urban fabric in its fragmentation.

The five boxes are placed around a central courtyard with small gardens created in between. Large glass doors opening onto the courtyard allow in natural light and encourage ventilation while creating a private environment on all other sides. The central courtyard also provides a secluded outdoor space for the residents to relax in.

The trees serve not only as a green measure. Were the idea to be multiplied to a larger number of houses, the trees would also contribute to minimising the risk of flooding.

To reduce costs and the carbon footprint, locally sourced, natural materials were used and left untreated - such as the concrete and bamboo framework on the external walls. The effect created by this texture also enriches the home’s appearance. ’Light and shadow are changing every hour,’ says the architect. ’The house shows different faces time after time.’

The design consists of five concrete boxes designed as giant pots, with trees planted on top

The design consists of five concrete boxes designed as giant pots, with trees planted on top

To reduce costs and the carbon footprint, locally sourced, natural materials were used and left untreated - such as the concrete and bamboo framework on the external walls

To reduce costs and the carbon footprint, locally sourced, natural materials were used and left untreated - such as the concrete and bamboo framework on the external walls

The five boxes are placed around a central courtyard with small gardens created in between

The five boxes are placed around a central courtyard with small gardens created in between

Large glass doors opening onto the courtyard allow in natural light and encourage ventilation while creating a private environment on all other sides

Large glass doors opening onto the courtyard allow in natural light and encourage ventilation while creating a private environment on all other sides

The bedrooms, clad in a suitably natural materials palette of concrete, brick and wood, offer a glimpse to the surrounding greenery

The bedrooms, clad in a suitably natural materials palette of concrete, brick and wood, offer a glimpse to the surrounding greenery

The central courtyard provides a secluded outdoor space for the residents to relax in

The central courtyard provides a secluded outdoor space for the residents to relax in

The effect created by the façade's texture also enriches the home's appearance. 'Light and shadow are changing every hour,' says architect Vo Trong Nghia. 'The house shows different faces time after time'

The effect created by the façade's texture also enriches the home's appearance. 'Light and shadow are changing every hour,' says architect Vo Trong Nghia. 'The house shows different faces time after time'

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